• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-17
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• 2001

Background and Objetive : Lack of uniformity in reporting facial nerve recovery in patients with facial nerve paralysis has been a major disadvantage in comparing treatment modalities. The objective evaluation of facial nerve function is a complex procedure. The House and Brackmann grading system, the Yanagihara grading system has been recommend as a universal standard for assessing the degree of facial nerve palsy. However, clinical studies for treatment of facial palsy have rarely used this universal standard in oriental medicine. That is the reason for analysing this facial nerve grading system. Material and Method : We choose 10 scales reported from 1955 till 1995. These facial nerve grading systems may be classified as Gross system, Regional system and Specific system. Result and Conculsion : The scales of Botmann and Jonkees, May, Peitersen, and House and Brackmann are the gross facial nerve grading systems with which we grossly assess the facial motor dysfunction and the secondary defect. Among these scales, H-B scale is the most widespred The scales of Yanagihara(若杉文吉), Smith, Adour and Swanson, Jassen, FEMA are the regional facial nerve grading system in which we weight, or unweight the facial motor dysfunction and the secondary defect. For example, the scales of Yanagihara(若杉文吉) and Smith are the unweighted regional scale, the scale of Adour and Swanson, Jassen, FEMA are the weighted regional grading system. The scale of Stennert is the Specific facial nerve grading system in which we respectively assess the grade of facial dysfunction at rest, in motion and the secondary defect. For the objective evaluation of the oriental medicine treatment for facial palsy, we must use the universal standard scale, i.e. the H-B scale, the Yanagihara scale.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.117-127
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• 2016

Objectives : This study was performed to observe the effect of complex therapy, including electro-acupuncture and magnetic-acupuncture, on peripheral facial nerve palsy. Methods : Nine patients with peripheral facial nerve palsy were treated with acupuncture using electrical and magnetic stimulation. Acupoints in the face were stimulated with an electromagnetic field, as widely and as evenly as possible. To evaluate the effects before and after treatment we used Yanagihara's unweighted grading system, House-Brackmann scale, and Sunnybrook facial grading system and image once a week. Results : After treatment, the scores of Yanagihara's unweighted grading system, House-Brackmann scale and Sunnybrook facial grading system each improved (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion : Complex therapy using electro-acupuncture and magnetic-acupuncture might be an effective treatment to improve symptoms of peripheral facial nerve palsy. Further randomized-controlled trials are required to verify the efficacy and results of this study.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.258-267
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to find out validity of Surface Electromyography(sEMG) compared with Nerve Conduction Study and clinical assessment scale as assessment factors for facial palsy. Methods: We investigated 50 cases of patients with peripheral facial palsy who had records of sEMG and NCS to check. Then we analyzed the correlation between sEMG and NCS that carried out around 1 week after onset. And we analyzed the correlation between sEMG and clinical assessment scales that were measured three times around 1 week, 3-4 weeks and 5-6 weeks after onset. Clinical assessment scales used in this study were House-brackmann grade, Yanagihara unweighted grading scale and Sunnybrook facial grading system. We used Pearson's correlation for statistical analysis. Results: sEMG and NCS, measured at similar times, were statistically correlated. Especially, the correlation with the forehead region was high. And sEMG and clinical assessment scale, measured at same time, were statistically correlated, especially after 5 weeks from onset. Conclusion: According to this study, sEMG is expected to be useful to assessment facial palsy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.95-101
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• 2016

Objectives : The aim of this report was to investigate the effects of Korean medical treatment on facial nerve paralysis with sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus caused by traumatic temporal bone fracture. Methods : We treated a patient with acupuncture, herbal medicine and physiotherapy. The effect of these treatments was evaluated by House-Brackmann facial grading scale, Yanagihara's unweighted grading system and by Digital Infrared Thermographic Image. Results : After 21 days of Korean medical treatment, House-Brackmann facial grading scale changed from III to II and Yanagihara's unweighted grading score increased from 14 to 27. Digital Infrared Thermographic Image also improved. Conclusions : These results suggest that Korean medical treatments were effective in treating facial nerve paralysis with sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus caused by traumatic temporal bone fracture. We hope that a more efficient application of this treatment will be the result of clinical data accumulated in future studies.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.929-939
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• 2022

This case report determines the effects of Korean medicine treatment on a pontine hemorrhage with a cavernous malformation. In this study, Korean medicine treatments, such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and moxibustion, were administered for 30 days. During the hospitalization period, evaluations were performed using the Scott and Kraft Scale, eye movement, 9-gaze photography, the House-Brackmann grading system, and Yanagihara's unweighted grading system on days 1, 12, and 30. The Scott and Kraft Scale increased from -4 to -2, while eye movement increased from 43.1% to 72.3%. The House-Brackmann grading system improved from 4 to 2, and Yanagihara's unweighted grading system increased from 13 to 31. We also discovered that the movement of the left eye was improved by 9-gaze photography. Our findings suggest that Korean medicine treatment has potential effects on esotropia and facial palsy caused by a pontine hemorrhage with a cavernous malformation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.827-837
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of using Korean medical treatment for peripheral facial nerve palsy. Methods: We primarily treated the patient's peripheral facial nerve palsy during hospitalization (06/28/21~07/13/21) without any other steroids or antiviral drug treatments and additionally treated their spinal stenosis, using Korean medical treatments in both cases (herbal medicine, acupuncture, and herbal acupuncture therapy). The House-Brackmann grading system and Yanagihara's unweighted grading system were used to assess facial symptom changes, and the Numerical Rating Scale was used to evaluate the back pain caused by the spinal stenosis. Results: Following treatment, the patient's House-Brackmann and Numerical Rating Scale scores decreased, while their Yanagihara unweighted score improved. Conclusions: This study suggests that Korean medicine may be effective in the treatment of facial nerve palsy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2024

This study presents a case of facial nerve injury that occurred after parotidectomy for a benign tumor of the parotid gland that improved with integrated Korean medicine (IKM). On June 24, 2023, the patient presented with facial nerve injury based on a facial nerve conduction study after parotidectomy, with a score of five on Yanagihara's unweighted grading system (Y-system) and a grade of five on the House-Brackmann facial grading scale (H-B scale). During the 15 days of admission, IKM treatments, including acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, herbal steam therapy, physiotherapy, herbal medicine, and thread embedding acupuncture treatment, were performed. After treatment, the strength of the orbicularis oculi, orbicularis oris, and masticatory muscles improved, with a Y-system score of 17 and an H-B scale of III. In conclusion, the findings of this study confirm the applicability and effectiveness of IKM in the treatment of facial paralysis following parotidectomy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.989-996
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to report a rare case of bilateral facial palsy after endoscopy and the effects of a series of traditional Korean medicine treatments applied to the patient. The patient was treated with Western oral medications for seven days and then with traditional Korean medicine consisting of acupuncture, moxa, and herbal medicine (Dodamgeopung-san-gami and Yukgungeopung-san-gami) for two months. Treatment progress was measured using the House-Brackmann grading system and Yanagihara's unweighted grading scale. We were able to notice some improvements in the patient's symptoms: the House-Brackmann scale went from 5/4 to 2/1, and the Yanagihara scale from 13/16 to 38/40. This study thus reports that traditional Korean medicine treatments can be applied to bilateral facial palsy found in rare cases and still be effective.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2023

This study individually analyzed the effects of Korean Facial Chuna Manual Treatment (K-FCMT) combined with Korean medicine (KM) treatment (acupuncture, electroacupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine) on five patients with acute Bell's palsy who visited Dongsuwon Korean Medicine Hospital between August 1 and 31, 2022. During inpatient treatment, two of the five patients received K-FCMT 5-6 times a week, and the other three received the same frequency during outpatient treatment for approximately 2 weeks. Patients with a House-Brackmann grading scale (HBGS) score of ≤4 and Yanagihara unweighted grading system (Y-score) ≥7-8 began to recover after the 2nd-3rd sessions of K-FCMT, which entered the recovery phase quickly. As patients entered the recovery phase (7-9th sessions of K-FCMT), symptoms improved to HBGS scores of 1-2 and Y-scores of 35-40 points. This study suggests the possibility of applying K-FCMT combined with KM treatment to patients in the acute stage of Bell's palsy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2024

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the correlation between clinical assessment scales, self-assessment scales, and surface electromyography (SEMG) for facial nerve palsy. Methods: This study assessed 32 cases of facial nerve palsy on the first visit, 11 cases on the second visit, and 9 cases on the third visit to the Korean medicine hospital, university. This study was conducted from October 22, 2022, to December 22, 2022. The patients were evaluated using SEMG, clinical assessment scales, and self-assessment scales 3 times. The House-Brackmann grading systems (HBGS), Yanagihara unweighted grading system (Y-score), facial disability index, numerous rating scale, and accompanying symptoms of facial nerve palsy were used for assessment. Moreover, statistical correlation was analyzed using Pearson correlation. Results: On Visit 1, Significant correlations were observed between the results of SEMG and other clinical assessment scales as well as between SEMG-F (frontalis) and different parts of the Y-score. On Visit 2, significant correlations were observed between the results of SEMG and HBGS as well as between SEMG-F and the detailed parts of the Y-score. On Visit 3, significant correlations were observed only between SEMG-F and the detailed parts of the Y-score. A significant correlation was also observed between the changes in the clinical assessment scales on Visits 1 and 3 and between the changes in SEMG-F and those in the patient self-assessment scales. Conclusion: These findings suggest that SEMG can be used to evaluate facial nerve palsy in conjunction with the use of other clinical assessment scales.